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AZERI PRESIDENT CITES LACK OF MULTICULTURALISM AS FACTOR IN KARABAKH CONFLICT
Today's Zaman, Turkey
May 31 2013
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has stated that multiculturalism
is quite critical for all nations around the world, especially for
Azerbaijanis who have suffered from ethnic cleansing in the region
for decades.
"It is because of problems related to multiculturalism that
Azerbaijani territories are under occupation [by neighboring country
Armenia]. A practice of ethnic cleansing has been carried out on our
nation for more than 20 years. Azerbaijanis have been driven out of
their own territories, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent
territories. The religious sites and historic heritage of Azerbaijanis
have been destroyed. Reports by the Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe's [OSCE] fact finding mission confirms that all
monuments and infrastructure in occupied Azerbaijani territories were
destroyed by Armenian armed forces," Aliyev said on Thursday during the
opening ceremony of the second World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue,
which kicked off in the capital city of Baku on May 28-June 1.
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in a deadly conflict
over Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian-majority enclave inside
Azerbaijan, for more than two decades. The conflict escalated into
a full-scale war in the early 1990s when Armenian-backed forces
under the command of current President Serzh Sarksyan occupied 20
percent of Azerbaijani territories, including Nagorno-Karabakh and
seven adjacent territories, killing some 30,000 people. Hundreds of
thousands fled their homes before a cease-fire was signed in 1994,
although there is as of yet no peace treaty.
Expressing his regret that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has yet to
be solved, Aliyev said that this outrage of justice is still ongoing
even though the international community is keeping a close eye on a
peaceful solution to the conflict.
"International norms do not work with regards to a solution to the
conflict. The four resolutions on Nagorno-Karabakh passed by the
UN Security Council, which send a clear message for Armenian armed
forces to withdraw from the occupied territories, have yet to be
implemented," Aliyev noted, calling for an immediate end to the
occupation of Azerbaijani territories.
The UN Security Council adopted four resolutions in 1993 -- 822, 853,
874 and 884 -- urging the parties concerned to comply with them, in
particular by refraining from any armed hostilities and by withdrawing
military forces from any occupied territories. But Armenia has thus
far refused to withdraw its troops from the occupied lands.
"Armenia does not attach any importance to these resolutions;
the occupation and injustice is still ongoing. A solution to the
conflict will be an indication of respect for international norms and
will bring an end to the historic injustice," Aliyev said, adding,
"Nagorno-Karabakh is a territory of Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan must
regain its territorial integrity."
Commenting on multiculturalism and developing it further in Azerbaijan,
Aliyev said that multiculturalism has deep roots in Azerbaijan as
the country is home to various cultures and religions.
"The representatives of different cultures and religions live
together as a family in Azerbaijan," Aliyev noted, adding that
memories belonging to ethnic minorities and religious sects are
diligently protected as the country views them as a form of respect
for its history.
Noting that there are no substitutes for multiculturalism as the only
alternatives are discrimination, xenophobia, racism and fascism,
Aliyev said, "I believe that in the 21st century the international
community needs to vigorously combat such negative phenomena."
Believing that there are many great opportunities to further develop
and strengthen multiculturalism across the world, Aliyev said that
the world needed political willingness to strive for multiculturalism.
Calling on the international community and humanity to be more active
to put an end to such unpleasant problems, Aliyev also believed
that the second World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue is a great
contribution to the development of dialogue, tolerance, diversity
and multiculturalism.
"The World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue which is held in Azerbaijan
every two years is a serious and important step on the path to
developing intercultural dialogue as those who have convened here
seek a common aim; a successful future of intercultural dialogue,"
Aliyev said, urging the need to take steps towards ensuring peace in
the world.
The forum, which has a theme of "Peaceful Coexistence in a
Multicultural World," kicked off in Baku on May 28 and will continue
until June 1. The heads of international organizations, current
and former presidents of several nations and the ministers of more
than 100 countries, heads of think tanks, scientists and high-level
representatives of centers engaged in intercultural dialogue and
diplomats are attending the forum.
The East-West Meeting of the Ministers of Culture was also held for
the first time in Baku on Friday on the sidelines of the second World
Forum on Intercultural Dialogue.
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-317027-azeri-president-cites-lack-of-multiculturalism-as-factor-in-karabakh-conflict.html
Today's Zaman, Turkey
May 31 2013
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has stated that multiculturalism
is quite critical for all nations around the world, especially for
Azerbaijanis who have suffered from ethnic cleansing in the region
for decades.
"It is because of problems related to multiculturalism that
Azerbaijani territories are under occupation [by neighboring country
Armenia]. A practice of ethnic cleansing has been carried out on our
nation for more than 20 years. Azerbaijanis have been driven out of
their own territories, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent
territories. The religious sites and historic heritage of Azerbaijanis
have been destroyed. Reports by the Organization for Security and
Co-operation in Europe's [OSCE] fact finding mission confirms that all
monuments and infrastructure in occupied Azerbaijani territories were
destroyed by Armenian armed forces," Aliyev said on Thursday during the
opening ceremony of the second World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue,
which kicked off in the capital city of Baku on May 28-June 1.
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in a deadly conflict
over Nagorno-Karabakh, an ethnic Armenian-majority enclave inside
Azerbaijan, for more than two decades. The conflict escalated into
a full-scale war in the early 1990s when Armenian-backed forces
under the command of current President Serzh Sarksyan occupied 20
percent of Azerbaijani territories, including Nagorno-Karabakh and
seven adjacent territories, killing some 30,000 people. Hundreds of
thousands fled their homes before a cease-fire was signed in 1994,
although there is as of yet no peace treaty.
Expressing his regret that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has yet to
be solved, Aliyev said that this outrage of justice is still ongoing
even though the international community is keeping a close eye on a
peaceful solution to the conflict.
"International norms do not work with regards to a solution to the
conflict. The four resolutions on Nagorno-Karabakh passed by the
UN Security Council, which send a clear message for Armenian armed
forces to withdraw from the occupied territories, have yet to be
implemented," Aliyev noted, calling for an immediate end to the
occupation of Azerbaijani territories.
The UN Security Council adopted four resolutions in 1993 -- 822, 853,
874 and 884 -- urging the parties concerned to comply with them, in
particular by refraining from any armed hostilities and by withdrawing
military forces from any occupied territories. But Armenia has thus
far refused to withdraw its troops from the occupied lands.
"Armenia does not attach any importance to these resolutions;
the occupation and injustice is still ongoing. A solution to the
conflict will be an indication of respect for international norms and
will bring an end to the historic injustice," Aliyev said, adding,
"Nagorno-Karabakh is a territory of Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan must
regain its territorial integrity."
Commenting on multiculturalism and developing it further in Azerbaijan,
Aliyev said that multiculturalism has deep roots in Azerbaijan as
the country is home to various cultures and religions.
"The representatives of different cultures and religions live
together as a family in Azerbaijan," Aliyev noted, adding that
memories belonging to ethnic minorities and religious sects are
diligently protected as the country views them as a form of respect
for its history.
Noting that there are no substitutes for multiculturalism as the only
alternatives are discrimination, xenophobia, racism and fascism,
Aliyev said, "I believe that in the 21st century the international
community needs to vigorously combat such negative phenomena."
Believing that there are many great opportunities to further develop
and strengthen multiculturalism across the world, Aliyev said that
the world needed political willingness to strive for multiculturalism.
Calling on the international community and humanity to be more active
to put an end to such unpleasant problems, Aliyev also believed
that the second World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue is a great
contribution to the development of dialogue, tolerance, diversity
and multiculturalism.
"The World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue which is held in Azerbaijan
every two years is a serious and important step on the path to
developing intercultural dialogue as those who have convened here
seek a common aim; a successful future of intercultural dialogue,"
Aliyev said, urging the need to take steps towards ensuring peace in
the world.
The forum, which has a theme of "Peaceful Coexistence in a
Multicultural World," kicked off in Baku on May 28 and will continue
until June 1. The heads of international organizations, current
and former presidents of several nations and the ministers of more
than 100 countries, heads of think tanks, scientists and high-level
representatives of centers engaged in intercultural dialogue and
diplomats are attending the forum.
The East-West Meeting of the Ministers of Culture was also held for
the first time in Baku on Friday on the sidelines of the second World
Forum on Intercultural Dialogue.
http://www.todayszaman.com/news-317027-azeri-president-cites-lack-of-multiculturalism-as-factor-in-karabakh-conflict.html